Women Who Own It

Carol Gilbert

Co-Owner of Fairy LiceMothers

What inspired you to start your business?

I started Fairy LiceMothers 10 years ago with 2 business partners. Based on our experience as mothers, we saw a definite need in the community for a business like this. Lice letters were sent home daily in our children’s backpacks. Once I started doing my own research on lice I noticed so much misinformation out there that led families to unnecessarily panic. This inspired my partners and I to do something about it. I found a lice research center and committed to getting educated on the real facts. I was eager to start this business and educate the community on the real facts about lice, to offer a service that will guarantee results, and to provide the community with non-toxic products that work.

Clients have the choice of having us do their treatment or they can purchase the same non-toxic products we use and we show them how to do the treatment themselves.

What advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?

First and foremost, I would urge that they are passionate and believe in themselves. Additionally, I would advise other women entrepreneurs to concentrate on their own goals, more than what the competition is doing. Emphasize what sets you apart from the competition and always be honest and patient with clients.

What three traits define you?

I believe I am resilient. When things are going perfectly that’s great but, how problems are dealt with are more important.

Time management is also very important to me. I have a knack for gauging how much time things will take and making sure never to be late for an appointment.

I’ve been told that I have a lot of patience. Patience is key when dealing with frantic moms. You hear the same story over and over and you have to repeat the same information to each and every client. Sometimes I feel like a broken record but it’s the only way to get the real facts communicated to the public.

What women inspire you?

I would have to say Oprah is my biggest inspiration. She started with nothing and not only rose to the top, she did it with class, never compromising on her integrity. I have never heard a negative story about her.

How has being a WBENC-Certified WBE helped your business?

We are newly certified WBE and we are still getting our arms around how to fully leverage the certification. I fully believe it will pay dividends for Fairy LiceMothers as we look to expand our footprint. We are going to the WBENC National Convention in June and hope to catch the eye of CVS and other big box pharmacies. Our product is non-toxic and should be on the shelves of every pharmacy for people to have a non-toxic option for lice removal.

What do you see as the coolest or most important trend in your industry?

We are noticing the negative stigma of lice is slowly going away. At least in our community where we provide the service. I feel that this local trend is a direct result from all of the education we have provided in our community.

As a business owner, what keeps you up at night?

The biggest problem with this industry is that you never know when the phone will ring. We have 4 locations that are open 7 days a week. The biggest challenge is the staff appropriately. We want to give employee hours but we can’t have them sitting around when it’s not busy. I have lost many nights sleep over this dilemma.

What’s the hardest part about being a business owner?

When you are a business owner, the day is never over. You have to make a conscience effort to end the day. Having a full personal life is also important.

How do you define success?

People usually define success by how much money they have accumulated. I define success by how many people leave my business with a smile on their face and peace of mind that the issue was taken care of properly. I believe if you are passionate about what you do the financial success will follow. Don’t look for a job that makes a lot of money. Do what you love and it will all fall into place.

What’s the best way to start your day?

I love starting my day by going to the gym. After exercising I have a ton of energy and my mind is clear. Physical fitness goes hand in hand with mental acuity.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was a child I loved styling my dolls hair. I remember telling my dad I wanted to be a hair stylist and the response was, “No, you are going to college.” I’m not a hair stylist per say… but doing lice treatments is another way of working with hair. I did take my father’s advice; I went to college and graduated with a degree in MIS. I then spent 20 years in corporate America managing a technical support group. It’s ironic how after all this time I ended up working with hair.

Fill in the blank:

When I face a challenge, I... pour myself into learning everything there is to know about this challenge and then step up and tackle it.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself... to take more pictures, eat healthy, and savor the special moments.

The one thing I couldn’t live without is... mental clarity.

By this time next year, I will be... getting ready for my daughter to go to college.

The best thing that happened to me last week was... relaxing on Miami Beach.

To get my creative juices flowing, I... search the internet for ideas.

About Fairy LiceMothers

Fairy LiceMothers are dedicated to eliminating the persistent lice problem and educating the community on the use of safe and effective lice treatment methods. We utilize the proven Shepherd Method™ for effective lice and nit removal without the use of chemicals or harmful pesticides. We offer a personalized, guaranteed safe and effective lice removal treatment that will ease the minds of families dealing with this devastating problem. We help keep children in school and help parents get back to a normal life. We use the finest non-toxic treatment products to remove, repel and prevent lice that are affordable and easy to use. Learn more.